Hieam stevens maxim



(No Model.)

' H. S. MAXIM.

MACHINE GUN.

Patented Ma 5, 1885.

n. Pneus. Mmmm-pw. wnnmgmn. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EiucEG HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, OE LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT VIGKERS AND ROBERT It. SYMON, BOTH OE SAME PLACE.

MACHINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317.161, dated May 5, 1885.

Applicants fumi may 27, resi.

To all whom' it may concern:

Be itknown that I, HIEAM SrEvENs MAXIM, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms, (for which I have obtained patents in Great Britain, fo. 3,17 8, dated 26th June, 1883, and N o. 3,4937 dated 16th July, 1883, France, patent ofaddition, No. 156,344, dated 2d July, 1883; Belgium, patent of addition, No. 62,519, dated 4th July, 1883,) of which the following is aspecitication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the specification accompanying my petition for United States Letters Patent filed May 2, 1884, No. 130,166, I have described an automatic machine or battery gun-that is to say, a gun wherein the operations of feeding, loading, tiring, extracting, and ejecting are automatically performed by the explosion of a cartridge.

My present invention comprises improvements in the construction and mode of operation of the gun referred to, the said improvements relating to the mechanism for effecting the operations of feeding, firing, extracting,

and ejecting the shells, the objects of the improvements being to simplify the construction of the parts, and to render their action or operation inore certain and effective.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of a machine-gun constructed according to the present invention, showing the same with the cover or top plate removed. Fig. 2

is a central longitudinal section of the same, with some of the parts shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing part of the feeding mechanism. Fig. 11 is a plan of one of the feed-wheels, hereinafter described. Fi g. 5 is a sectional elevation showing another part of the feeding mechanism, which also serves for ejecting the cartridges. Fig. 6 is a plan of another feed-wheel hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing the mechanism for rotating the said feedwheels, and Fig. 8 is an edge view of a part of the said mechanism. Fig. 9 is a front end view of the breech-block or plunger detached. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the breech end ofthe barrel. Fig. 11 is a section on the line :t x,

n(No model.) Patented in England June 26, 1883, No. 3,1778, and July 16,1883, No. 3,493; in France July 2,18B15,No.156,3l=l, and in Belgium J'ul)` 4, 188B, No. 62,519.

Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is a front elevation, and Fig. 13 an edge view, of a lever for firing the gun by hand. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing part of a gun in which is inserted a cartridge made according to my invention. Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of the said cartridge, drawn to an enlarged scale.

The remaining figures are hereinafter described.

A indicates a strong metal frame, which is provided with a lid or cover, A', and which may be mounted on any suitable stand or carriage. The barrel B is xed in the frame A, and does not participatein the recoil. At the rear of the barrel is the breech-block or plunger C, which slides longitudinally in suitable guides, as hereinafter described, and carries the firing-pin c and the cock or hammer c'. This plunger on its front upper side has a projection carrying a rod, C2, passing through the guide c, and having at its front end a bridge-piece, (l, to which are connected the spiral springs D. These springs tend always to draw or keep the plunger up to the barrel, but yield to the force ofthe explosion, so that the said breech-block or plunger is thereby forced backward, taking with it the empty cartridge-case far enough to allow the latter to be ejected from the gun, and to permit a fresh cartridge to be deposited by the feed mechanism in front of the breech-block or plunger. The spiral springs D are also connected with screw-threaded rods d', which pass through the frame A, and have on the outer side thereof nuts di, whereby the tension of the said springs can be regulated.

E is a continuous belt or chain into which the cartridges are inserted, so that they may be fed uninterruptedly from a box or magazine placed in any convenient position. I prefer to form this belt of a double web of any suitable fibrous material in which the vcartridges are held transversely to the web and parallel to each other at equal distances apart.

To move the belt E uniformly and intermittently, and to bring the cartridges successively in front ofthe breech-block or plunger, I employ the following mechanism-that is to say, I arrange below the breech mechbox or receptacle into posi-tion to be thrust successively into the grooves in the feed-wheel G, as hereinafter described. The feed-wheel G is arranged in front of the wheel F on a shaft, G', which isbelow the barrel VB, but above the shaft F. The position of the wheel G relatively to the barrel B, the breech-block orplunger C, andthe wheel F is such that the lowermost groove or channel, g., in the wheel G is in line with the uppermost groove, f, in the wheel F, and the uppermost groove in the wheel G is in line with the barrel. In combination with and parallel to the breech-block orplunger I provide an auxiliary plunger or pusher, H, carried by a cross bar or arm, C, extending downward fromthe breech-block or plunger. rIhis pusher is arranged, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when a groove, f, in the wheel F coincides with a groove, y, in the Wheel G the said pusher isinline with the said grooves, and as the breechblock moves for ward will force a cartridge from the groove f into the groove g, vthus freeing the said cartridge from the belt or band E. The feedwheels are then partially rot-ated, as hereinafter described, and another cartridge is forced from the wheel F into the wheel G, and so on, and the cartridges are successively-carried by the vrotation of the wheel G into line vwith the barrel,andin front of the breech-block or plunger C.,Vv

To pr-event` the band E from being pushed forward with a cartridgeV when the latter is forced from one of the grooves f, the wheel' F is provided with a circumferential recess, f', which receives the said band, so that it is held against displacement.

The pusher H extends through the rear end of theframe A, and is provided withvav knob or handle, h, whereby the breech mechanism can be operated by hand.

To insure the accurate alignment of each cartridge with the barrelas it is brought up to the same by thewheel G, I-form at the bottom of each groove g a slot, g', and I form on the forward end-of the breech-bloclr or plunger C a pin or feather, g2, adapted to i. enter and slide in this slot, the end of the said slot at the rear side of the wheel being widened and inclined, as shown yin Fig. 6, so that the said feather cannot failrto enter the* same asth'e breech-block or plunger moves forward. Similar means may, if desired be employed to insure accuracy in theworking' of the wheel'F and pusher H. Each of the said feed-wheels is suitably'inclosed in a casingto prevent the slipping of the cartridge from the said grooves or channels. rIhe casing F2, which surrounds the wheel F, is provided with twoopenings, F3 F.

The openingF@ through which the cartridges pass to the feed-wheel, is bell-shaped, as shown Y in Figs. 2 and 8, for the purpose of guiding the cartridges. :After the cartridges have been pushed from the web E into the grooves of the wheel G the empty web passes through the openingF. The casing G2, surrounding the wheel G, has only one opening, G3, throughv which the empty cartridge-shells pass as the grooves or divisions of the wheel come successively opposite the said opening.

rlhe manner in which the breech-block or ment is caused to Aimpart the required intermittent rotaryfmotion tothe feed-wheels is as follows-that is'to say, the said wheels F G have ratchet-pinions K L formed or fixed thereon. In combination with these ratchetpinions I arrange pawls K L', carried by a vertical bar, 7c, arranged to slide in bearings or guides Xed on the side of the frame A. A lever, M, is pivoted at m, and has its end It2 curved, as shown. The other end, k3, engages with the upper end of the vertical bar k. A roller, kt, on the breech-block or plunger C acts on the curved end k2 of the lever M at each movement of the said plunger. At the commencement of each forward movement of the plunger C it imparts, through the medium of vthe lever M, a downward movement to the vertical bar k, and in the downward movement the pawls K L turn the feed-wheels on their axes so as to move each cartridge a distance equal to the width of one groove. At the endof each backward movement of the plunger C the said roller k* acts upon the curved end k2 of .thelever M, and moves the vertical bar lc and pawls K L upward without operating the feed-wheels. To prevent the accidental. backward movement ofthe said wheels, I provide stop-pawls I2 L2, to engage with the ratchet-teeth thereon. A spring, N, is arranged to bearV on the upper end of the vertical'bar 7c to assist or facilitate its downward movement.

As above stated, the breech-blockor plunger C carries the coclcor hammer c. The said cock or hammer is arranged upon a pivot or fu'lcrum, cdi, in the proper position to act on the firing-pin c, which pin or a rod connectedtherewith, extends centrally through the breech-block or plunger C, as shown in Fig. 2.

In combination with the hammer c I provide a device which, during the forward move- -ment ofv the breech-block, will cock-the said hammer, and will release the same so that it will'be actuated by 'the mainspring J at the proper moment to discharge the gun.' This device consists of an arm, I, pivoted to the frame A, and arranged iii such a position thatV it projects into the path of the hammer c. as

the latter moves with the breechblock or plunger. vrlhe said arm has at its end abev- IOO IIO

eled surface, z', which, as the breech-block or plunger-moves forward, engages with the noseY c2 ofthe hammer and forces the same back against the pressure of the mainspring J,

thereby cocking the said hammer. The arm I will hold thehammer until the breech-block has completed its forward movement and the cartridge is pushed home and properly supported in the barrel. The inclined surface of the arm I then permits the hammer to slip therefrom and strike the rear end of the firingpin c, which is thus driven forward and explodes the cartridge.

I provide the arm I with means whereby it may be adjusted on its pivot or axis so that it can be set either in the position above specified or in such a position that it will not cock the hammer during the movement of the breech-block or plunger, or will cock it but not release it. This object is accomplished by forming shoulders c3 on the boss or hub of the said arm, and arranging in combination therewith a shoulder or piece, c4, fixed to the axis or spindle c, and provided with a spring, c5, which limits the adjustment of the said arm and holds it when adjusted. Moreover, I provide the axis or spindle c, of the said arm with a lever or handle cs, outside the frame so that it can be adjusted or the gun fired by hand. p

As the cartridges which I prefer to use in my improved gun, and which are hereinafter described, are made without any head or flange, I provide the means hereinafter set forth for extracting the empty shells or cases from the barrel. The shell is started or forced a slight distance outward by the pressure existing in the barrel from the lnoment of explosion until the bullet leaves the barrel; but wit-hout provision for its temporary connection with the breech-block or plunger the latter, when moving back under the effect of the momentum imparted to it by the explosion, would leave the cartridge shell or case in the barrel. I therefore provide the plunger with a clutch or gripping device, which grasps and holds the said shell or case tightly during the recoil of the plunger, and then releases it and permits it to be carried away from the breech by the feed-wheel G, and ejected through the opening G3. This clutch device or extractor is constructed as follows that is to say, the xed jaw o is formed on the end of the breech-block or plunger C, and the movable jaw -o forms the short arm of a lever, l?, pivoted to the said breech-block. This jaw o is so arranged that it grips the cartridge-shell at the moment ofthe explosion, andis tightened thereon by thebackward movement ofthe breech-block. The long arm p ofthe lever P extends through an aperture, p', in the guide a, and is so formed and arranged that is formed with a transverse slot or groove, b, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, to permit the extractor to take hold of the tube or shell of the cartridge.

The jaws of the extractor are preferably provided with teeth or notches to insure their taking a firm hold of the cartridge shell.

In some instances I arrange in combination with the above-described automatic breech mechanism the following apparatus for assisting and controlling the operation of the gunthat is to say, I attach to the rear cross-bar of the frame A a cylinder, Q, which is filled with water or other suitable fluid. The breech block C is extended rearwardly and provided with a piston, q, which is fitted to work in the said cylinder. This piston is fitted with cupleathers q2, and has apertures qi, whereby the liquid has access to the inside of one'of the cup-leathers to expand the same, and thus prevent leakage from the said cylinder. The cylinder Qhas apertures (fat its rear end,through which apertures the water or other fluid is forced (into a space or chamber, q, surrounding-the cylinder Q) by the piston q during the backward movement ofthe breech-block, these apertures being properly formed and arranged to insure the proper amount of resistance to such movement.

Above the space or chamber (j is another chamber, R, separated from the lower cham` ber, g5, bya valve, r. This valve is provided with screws r' r2, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby it can be adjusted to open fully or partially, and the passage of the liquid from one coinpartment or chamber to the other can thus be regulated so as to vary the speed of working of the gun.

I have found that by using cartridges without the customary rim or fiange the 'alignment of the cartridges with the barrel is facilitated, and the construction of the mechanism required for loading and extracting much simplified. Such cartridges, however, require the series of grooves or indentations around the base, as above described, to enable the extractor to take a firm grasp of the shell in withdrawing the same from the barrel. I have found, however, that this construction is better adapted to cartridges of small size, between which and the barrel there is but little fricv tion, than to larger ones. For the latter, therefore, I have devised a modified construction by which their withdrawal from the same is facilitated,and their force in producing the reA coil is increased. Such cartridges are shown in Figs. 14 and 15, in which e indicates a metallic cartridge-shell the sides of which are parallel from e" to e2, the remaining portions bein tapered. The base e is movable, and is passed into the rear of the shell, which it fits tightly, and so that it will be driven backward to the end of the shell by the explosion of the powder. In using these cartridges the end of the breechblock or plunger of the gun enters the rear part of the shell external to the base, so that the latter, when driven back by the force ol' the explosion,acts on the moving breech mech` anism, and imparts thereto the momentum by virtue of which it operates, as above described, the tube of the shell or case being grasped by the extractor and drawn lout as the breechblock or plunger moves backward. rIhis construction of shell obviates the necessity for starting the shell from the barrel at the moment of the explosion, as hereinbefore described with reference to the form of shell shown in Fig. 2, which has a fixed base, and is moved backward during the burning of the powder. The construction shown in Figs. 14 and l5, moreover, tends to prevent the shell of a cartridge from expanding under the force of an explosion, and thus reduces the power which would otherwise be required to draw the shell from the barrel. Then cartridges having this movable portion or base es are used, it is necessary that the construction of the breech block or plunger should be so modified that it will move back for some distance independently of the extractors. rlhis modification is illustrated in Fig. 14, in which the part c7, carrying` the rod C and the extractors, is not integral with the breech-block or plunger C, as shown in Fig. 2, but slides on a rod, C", which is screwed or otherwise fixed to the breech-block or plunger C.l This rod is formed with a collar, c, which fits into a recess in the part c7. Vhen a cartridge is fired,the explosion causes'the breech-block or plunger C to move back until the collar ci impinges against the end of the recess c1", when the part cT and the extractors o o' begin to move with the breech-block. rIhe length of the recess cm corresponds to the distance between the face of the movable part or base e ofthe cartridge and e of the shell.

It will be seen that the breech-block or plunger is capable of being moved back for some distance independently of the extractor.

Having now described my invention, what I claim`is w l. In amachine-gun, the combination, with the barrel ,of a longitudinally-movable breechblock arranged to move or slide in line with the barrel and adapted to be driven backward from'the barrel by the explosive .force of a discharge, springs connected with the breechblock and the stationary portion of the gunfor opposing the backward movement of the breech-block, cartridge-feeding, cartridge-exploding, and shell-extracting mechanism carried by the breech-block and operated by the movement of the samc, a wheel with compartments for holding cartridges in position to be removed by the feed mechanism, and mechanism between the breech-block and cartridgewheel for intermittently rotating the wheel in unison with the movement ot' the breechblock, all as set forth.

2. In a machine-gun,the combination, with the barrel ,of a cartridge-delivery wheel and a cartridge feed wheel having corresponding compartments for holding cartridges, two plungers, one forming a reciprocating breechblock arranged to move or slide in line with the barrel and adapted to force in its forward movement a cartridge from the deliverywheel into the barrel, the other connected and the cartridge-wheels by which the said wheels are intermittently rotated in unison with the movements-of the plungers, all as set for th.

3. rlhe combination, with the barrel of al machine-gun, of a wheel for presenting the cartridges in line with the barrel, a wheel and belt of cartridges passing over the same, a breechblock for forcing the cartridges from the delivery-wheel into the barrel, and a plunger connectedl or moving simultaneously therewith for transferring the cartridges from the belt or feed-wheel to the delivery-wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the barrel of a machine-gun, of a delivery-wheel or one for presenting the cartridgesin line with the barrel, a feed-wheel, a reciprocating breech-block for forcing the cartridges from the deliverywheel into the barrel, an extractor Ypivoted to the breech-block and adapted to bind upon a shell on the recoil of the breech-block, and av plunger connected to or moving simultaneously with the breech-block for transferring the cartridges from the feed to the delivery wheel, all substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine gun, the combination, with the barrel, the two cartridge holding or feed wheels, and reciprocating breech-block or plunger, of the mechanism for causing the intermittent rotation of the feed-wheels by the movement ofthe breech-block or plunger, and consisting of the curved lever M, pivoted to thc frame of the gun in the path of a portion ot' the breech-block, the sliding bar K; connected with the lever, pawls carried by the sliding bar, and ratchets or pinions on the ends of the feed-wheels, all as set forth. Y

6. Ina machine-gumthe combination, with a longitudinally-movable breech-block. and a cock or hammer pivoted thereto, of a springcontrolled adjustable arm, I, pivoted to the frame of the gun and having a beveled end that may be moved into or out of the path of movement of the hammer, whereby the latter may be automatically disengaged or held in check according-to the adjustment of the-movement of the arm I to or from the line of movement of the hammer, as set forth. Y

7. In a machine-gun, the combination, with a longitudinally movable breech-block or plunger, of a fixed jaw, o, formed on its for-` ward end, a movable jaw, o', pivoted to the breech-block in position to rest upon the'end of a cartridge when the breech-block is in its extreme forward position, a curved arm, I?,

IIO

connected with the jaw o', and a guide fixed to the frame and in the path of movementof the arm l?, whereby the arm is caused to release the 'aw 0 from its )osition against the cari J l s tridge, where it is held by the backward movement of the breech-block, all as set forth.

8. In a machine-gun, the combination, with a longitudinally-movable breech-block and breech mechanism connected therewith, o'f a piston secured to the breech-block and working in said cylinder,a chamber communicating with the rear ofthe cylinder, andintermediate adjustable valves for controlling or varying the channels of communication between the cylinder and the chamber, as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, with the longitudinally-movable breech-block C, and breech mechanism connected therewith, of the pistion q, extending from the rear end of the same, the

cylinder Q, inline with the breech-block, in I which said piston works, the chamber R, com- 'muncating with the rear portion ofthe cylinder Q, and the adjustable valver, for controlling or. varying the channel of communication between the cylinder Q and the chamber R, as set forth.

HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM,

Vit-nesses:

J. WATT, T. J. OSMAN,

Both of 17 Grat-@church St., London. 

